Guest guest Posted February 15, 2001 Report Share Posted February 15, 2001 Hi, I am new to this group. I have enjoyed lurking for the last couple of days and reading all the great messages. I wonder if anyone knows about passion flower. What is the best way to prepare it? Is it the flower or other parts that are useful? I have a lot of it growing here and have just made tea with the whole fresh flower chopped. Can I dry it? Thanks for any information, Bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 15, 2001 Report Share Posted February 15, 2001 > Robert Walton wrote: > I am new to this group. I have enjoyed lurking for the last couple of > days and reading all the great messages. I wonder if anyone knows > about passion flower. What is the best way to prepare it? Is it the > flower or other parts that are useful? I have a lot of it growing here > and have just made tea with the whole fresh flower chopped. Can I dry > it? Hi, Robert. Passionflower (one the most medicinal ones is Passiflora incarnata - which grows wild in the southern U.S. - I have to grow mine in a pot and bring it into the sunroom in the winter) can be dried. I tincture most of my passionflower and I usually just use the leaves but you can use all the aerial parts if you want. You can also make a tea but it won't be as strong as the tincture. There are many species that aren't medicinal (and there are 400 species) and I have read but have been unable to confirm that some species have flowers that are somewhat toxic. So until I find out for sure, I just use the Passiflora incarnata (as a sedative). I have a photo of P. incarnata on my website if you need to identify one of the medicinal ones: http://www.mycountrygarden.net/HGarden/HAZ/az.html .................Joan ************************* joanr My Country Garden http://mycountrygarden.net Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 15, 2001 Report Share Posted February 15, 2001 Thanks, Yours looks like mine, so I think it must be the same species. I just grow it on a fence, cause I am in South Florida. So I guess that it is not just the flower, but also the leaves that are used. Or is one or the other more powerful? I am something of an herbal newbie, have information on making a tincture, should I dry the leaves/flowers first? Bob Hi, Robert. Passionflower (one the most medicinal ones is Passifloraincarnata - which grows wild in the southern U.S. - I have to grow minein a pot and bring it into the sunroom in the winter) can be dried. Itincture most of my passionflower and I usually just use the leaves butyou can use all the aerial parts if you want. You can also make a teabut it won't be as strong as the tincture. There are many species thataren't medicinal (and there are 400 species) and I have read but havebeen unable to confirm that some species have flowers that are somewhattoxic. So until I find out for sure, I just use the Passifloraincarnata (as a sedative). I have a photo of P. incarnata on my websiteif you need to identify one of the medicinal ones: http://www.mycountrygarden.net/HGarden/HAZ/az.html .................Joan*************************joanrMy Country Gardenhttp://mycountrygarden.net Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 15, 2001 Report Share Posted February 15, 2001 Robert Walton wrote: > Yours looks like mine, so I think it must be the same species. I just grow > it on a fence, cause I am in South Florida. So I guess that it is not just > the flower, but also the leaves that are used. Or is one or the other more > powerful? All the aerial parts (above ground parts) are used and I have never heard of one being more powerful than any other part of the passionflower. > I am something of an herbal newbie, have information on making a tincture, > should I dry the leaves/flowers first? That is a matter of opinion too, fresh is probably better but dried is good too! Curious to know how the (fresh?) flower tasted in a tea? I have used the leaves in a tea with other herbs, but not alone..... Passionflower I use in a tincture blend for when I don't sleep well which is rare these days. Passionflower is used specifically for the " chattering " brain that prevents sleep......................Joan ************************* joanr My Country Garden http://mycountrygarden.net Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 16, 2001 Report Share Posted February 16, 2001 Joan, The fresh flower made the tea a nice lavender color and tasted great. I slept great that night. I have the "brain chatter" problem sometimes... Thanks for your help! Bob That is a matter of opinion too, fresh is probably better but dried isgood too! Curious to know how the (fresh?) flower tasted in a tea? Ihave used the leaves in a tea with other herbs, but not alone.....Passionflower I use in a tincture blend for when I don't sleep wellwhich is rare these days. Passionflower is used specifically for the"chattering" brain that prevents sleep......................Joan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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